Coventry City will begin their first Premier League campaign in 25 years with a Friday night trip to the champions, Arsenal, on 21 August – a dramatic curtain raiser for the 2026-27 season. The Sky Blues, promoted after winning the Championship last season, face Mikel Arteta's side at the Emirates at 8pm BST, marking their return to top‑flight football for the first time since 2001.
Hull City, who secured promotion via the play‑offs, host Manchester United on Saturday 22 August at 12.30pm, while Ipswich – the third promoted club – welcome Sunderland in a 3pm kick‑off. The weekend also sees Manchester City start life without Pep Guardiola as they host Bournemouth on Sunday 23 August at 2pm – Bournemouth themselves begin with a new manager, Marco Rose, who replaced Andoni Iraola after his move to Liverpool. Iraola takes his new Liverpool side to Newcastle on Sunday for a 4.30pm kick‑off, his first match in charge of the Reds.
“Coventry City return to top flight after 25 years with Friday night trip to champions Arsenal.”
Chelsea, now managed by Xabi Alonso, travel to Fulham on Monday 24 August at 8pm, while other opening‑weekend fixtures include Everton v Crystal Palace, Brentford v Spurs, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, and Brighton v Aston Villa. The season will end on Sunday 30 May 2027, later than usual due to the World Cup in the United States, which concluded 34 days before the Premier League start. The league has promised a full round of Boxing Day fixtures after only one game was played on that day last season, and international breaks will merge into a three‑week window in September and October.
Nine Premier League clubs have qualified for European competition next season – a joint record – with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool in the Champions League, and Bournemouth, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Europa League.